You may be asking how becoming an Authorized Licensed Fabricator of Model Railroad Benchwork products benefits me as a woodworker or shop owner. Read on to learn more about the metrics and scope of the hobby itself.
Introduction: This hobby is steady, active, and supported by real-world events
Model railroading isn’t a “flash trend.” It’s a long-running hobby with repeat spending (track, scenery, structures, rolling stock, upgrades) and a constant flow of new builders who need a reliable foundation to build on. These are not ‘toy trains’ that many tend to relate to, but rather an expansive industry that generates 1.2-1.5 billion USD annually, with steady growth rates projected to be 5-7% annually according to online sources.
You can see that consistency in the scale of major events:
- In the UK, Model Rail Scotland (Glasgow) has been positioned as Scotland’s largest model railway exhibition, with organisers expecting as many as 20,000 visitors for the 2025 show. (STV News)
- In the EU, INTERMODELLBAU (Dortmund, Germany) reported 61,000 visitors for 2024, and railway modelling is explicitly described as one of the fair’s “core areas.” (Intermodellbau)
- In the UK, Warley at the NEC has long been described as the country’s largest model railway event. (The Nec)
What this means for you: you’re not trying to “create demand.” Demand already exists—your opportunity is to meet it with a product that solves a real pain point: getting benchwork/baseboards built accurately, strong, and repeatable.
Why benchwork/baseboards are a profitable niche inside the hobby
Most hobbyists can buy track, locomotives, and scenery anywhere. But benchwork/baseboards are different:
- They’re bulky.
- They’re expensive to ship long-distance.
- They’re time-consuming to build accurately.
- Many people don’t have the tools/space—or they simply want it done right the first time.
That is exactly why prefabricated baseboard/benchwork kits already sell across the UK/EU/Australia market—there are existing suppliers charging real money for engineered boards and modular systems, including:
UK examples (proof people already buy “flat pack baseboards”)
- Grainge & Hodder baseboards (manufactured-to-order, engineered plywood boards). (Grainge and Hodder)
- Flexxgenix modular baseboard kits (laser-cut, modular system). (flexxgenix.com)
- Scale Model Scenery modular baseboards (laser-cut MDF baseboards, “no woodworking skills” positioning). (Scale Model Scenery)
- Model Layout Services laser-cut baseboard kit range (flat-pack, multiple widths). (Model Layout Services)
- White Rose Modelworks baseboard configurator (modular sizing + connection features). (Wensleydale Woodsmiths)
EU examples (proof modular “foundation modules” are sold as products)
- Modellbahn Manufaktur (EU) sells laser-cut MDF modules positioned as a foundation for model railway scenes/layouts. (manufaktur.lu)
Australia examples (proof “baseboards as a service/product” exist locally)
- Custom baseboard quoting as a productized service (Australia). (Hobbies In The Hills)
- Australian sellers listing/launching baseboards as SKUs/products (examples of “baseboards + legs sold separately” style offerings). (Slot Car Haus)
The point: the market already understands and buys the idea. Your advantage is offering a more complete, standardized, engineered system—and doing it locally.
Two product lines you can offer as an Authorized Licensed Fabricator (and why that matters for your workload)
You’ll typically offer two tiers, and you can decide how far you want to go based on your shop capacity.
1) Benchwork/Baseboard kits (no legs / simpler fabrication)
Best for the Model Railroader that:
- Has smaller spaces or desires modular layouts
- Wants to mount on their own supports/cabinets/wall brackets
- Desires lower shipping complexity/price and lower production time
2) Complete table kits (includes legs / slightly more complex fabrication)
Best for the Model Railroader that:
- Wants a “complete solution”
- Doesn’t want to engineer leg stability/bracing themselves
Result: Higher order value per sale (but more parts + more packing + more support)
Why this matters: you can start with baseboards to get traction fast, then expand into full table kits once your production rhythm is locked in.
Suggested starter inventory: keep it small, win early, expand later
When you launch, the goal isn’t to list 30 sizes. The goal is to:
- build confidently,
- ship confidently,
- and get 5-star outcomes consistently.
Phase 1 (starter lineup: baseboards)
Pick 6–10 baseboard sizes that cover most common needs. Example structure:
- 3 “small” modules (good for micro layouts / shelf layouts)
- 3 “mid” modules (common starter layouts)
- 2–4 “expansion” modules (to grow a layout over time)
Why this works: modular products are easier to repeat, easier to stock parts for, and they naturally generate repeat orders as customers expand.
Phase 2 (table kits)
Add 4–6 complete table kits after the baseboards are smooth:
- 2 “popular” all-around sizes
- 1 “small space” table kit
- 1–2 “large builder” table kits (higher price, higher profit per sale)
Scaling advantage: fewer SKUs reduces errors, reduces customer confusion, and keeps your cut planning/packing process tight.
Pricing strategy that helps you break into the niche (without racing to the bottom)
Here’s the practical way to price when entering a specialty market and the exact same way we went from being an unknown manufacturer here in the United States, to a reputable and recognized brand within in the industry, in only 2 years, that was previously dominated by 3 long established companies:
Step 1: enter slightly below the local established options (initially)
You’re buying speed: reviews, proof, repeat orders, and word-of-mouth.
- You don’t need to be the cheapest.
- You do need to be clearly “best value.”
- Leverage your value as a master wood worker/custom shop to your advantage
- Offer a unique design that most current laser or cnc manufacturers can’t match. (think pre-fab furniture versus real wood working craftsmanship)
You can justify “best value” with:
- better stability design choices using our L-girder and diagonal brace design for example
- clearer assembly support via our already clear instructions and fabrication methods
- consistent hole locations / alignment approach using our standardized methods
- better packaging and support response time
Step 2: raise prices once demand is consistent
Once you start seeing:
- steady inbound enquiries,
- repeat purchases (modular expansion),
- and custom requests…
…you adjust pricing to match what your time and capacity are worth.
Why custom requests become your “profit unlock”
Once you have standard sizes selling, customers will start asking for:
- custom depths, custom lengths
- odd corners, lift-outs, access sections
- “match my room exactly”
- modular systems that wrap around walls
These orders typically carry:
- higher margin (customers expect custom work to cost more)
- less direct competition (hard to compare apples-to-apples)
- stronger loyalty (they remember who solved the hard problem)
This is where your woodworking skills, pride in your work, and shop capability become a real differentiator. Cnc/laser cut manufacturers simply can’t match that.
Who this is perfect for: tiny shops, growing shops, and larger manufacturers
This opportunity can fit very different businesses:
Solo woodworker / tiny shop
- A reliable product line you can repeat
- Clear drawings + cut logic reduce mental load
- A way to stabilize income with repeatable kits plus occasional custom “high margin” jobs
Small–medium established woodshop
- Add a new revenue lane without changing your core business
- Fill schedule gaps with repeatable kit production
- Build a reputation in a niche community (modelers are loyal when quality is high)
- Utilize cutoffs that you would normally dispose of (many of the components utilize 19mm thick plywood in 64mm or 89mm widths)
Larger shop / production facility
- This can become a distinct division:
- standardized parts
- batch cutting
- predictable packaging
- scalable output
- Modular products especially scale well because repeat orders are common.
Shipping, pickup, and delivery: what you’ll need to decide upfront
Benchwork products succeed fastest when customers have clear, simple options:
Your three standard fulfilment options
- Local pickup (lowest cost, easiest)
- Local delivery (great upsell; especially for table kits)
- Shipped flat-pack (best for wider reach)
And yes—shipping is a major factor. That’s why being a local authorized builder/manufacturer in the UK/EU/Australia is so attractive: it solves the “expensive price to ship longer land distances or internationally” problem for the modeler.
What we provide to make this easier
You won’t start from zero. We can provide you with our existing product data that will assist you with your setup, including:
- product names + descriptions
- approximate packed dimensions / weights
- SKU structure
- pricing and options we offer on our product lines to use as a base line comparison in your region
Order processing: why e-commerce makes this dramatically easier, and why you should consider it if you don’t already use it
Even if you’re a small shop, using a clean e-commerce setup helps you:
- standardize orders
- reduce back-and-forth questions
- collect deposits or full payments
- capture customer info properly
- automate receipts and order confirmations
User-friendly platforms to consider (UK/EU/Australia)
These are commonly recommended for UK small businesses as accessible options (and they’re widely used across EU/AU as well). (FSB)
Hosted “all-in-one” platforms (fastest to launch)
- Shopify (widely used; clear plan options). (Shopify)
- Wix (drag-and-drop site + commerce plans). (wix.com)
- Squarespace (clean storefront + commerce). (Squarespace)
“Add a store to your existing site” (simple, low friction)
- Ecwid (popular for embedding a store into an existing website; supports paid tiers). (Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart)
UK-specific platforms (relevant for UK license partners)
- ShopWired (UK e-commerce platform with published plan pricing). (ShopWired)
- EKM (UK e-commerce; pricing model includes turnover considerations). (EKM)
WordPress route (powerful, but more “tech-managed”)
- WooCommerce can be very cost-effective, but the realistic cost depends on hosting + paid extensions/plugins. (WooCommerce)
Practical recommendation:
- If you want “launch fast, minimal tech stress” → Shopify / Wix / Squarespace
- If you already have a website and just want a store bolted on → Ecwid
- If you’re in the UK and want a UK-first platform → ShopWired / EKM
- If you have (or hire) WordPress support and want maximum control → WooCommerce
Authorized Builder License: why a dedicated landing page is a big deal
For the Authorized Builder License, a dedicated landing page matters and is required because you’re not just “another woodworker.” You become the recognized local provider for this system.
What that page does for you
- Educates buyers (so you get fewer basic questions)
- Pre-qualifies leads (so the enquiries are serious)
- Creates trust (“this is an established engineered system”)
- Sends customers to your ordering/contact path
Why it’s required for you as a partner with an Authorized Builder License
We direct visitors from our already established site to your dedicated page. (if you use Google analytics or similar, those links are trackable, so performance is measurable). That creates a simple value proposition:
- You focus on building + fulfilling locally
- We help by capturing and routing niche traffic from an established benchwork-focused site
This is a practical way to reduce your marketing workload—especially early on.
What a good “first step” looks like (so this doesn’t consume your time)
If you’re reading this and thinking “I like it, but I’m busy,” that’s normal. The best launch is a pilot:
Pilot (recommended)
- Start with baseboards only (simpler)
- Launch with a tight starter SKU list
- Confirm packaging + shipping cost reality
- Collect early feedback + photos + testimonials
- Add table kits only when the process is smooth
Closing: why this is worth serious consideration
If you’re already a capable woodshop, you’ve done the hard part—you have tools, skill, and production ability.
This opportunity gives you:
- a proven niche audience (active UK/EU/AU hobby scene shown by large recurring events) (STV News)
- proof that people already buy baseboards as products (existing regional suppliers) (Grainge and Hodder)
- a clean product structure (baseboards vs full table kits) that can scale without chaos
- referral web traffic support via an Authorized Builder landing page
If you’re still not sure if this is good for you and your business, consider my personal testimony:
I started The Model Railroad Benchwork Store in September of 2023 using my blogging website as a foundation. I had only a few basic products and offered them via a simple PDF pricing page and payment through a PayPal account. I was competing against 3 major manufacturers that have been in the business for well over 40 years.
After steady upgrades, integration of my online store, and the addition of more products, I have built The Model Railroad Benchwork Store into a significant online presence. My typical order backlog has been 30-45 days since November of 2024.
I operate as the sole fabricator of my products in my barely 400 square foot shop area using only lower end machinery, nothing fancy, just my passion for wood working and commitment to quality for each and every customer.
The market exists, we provide the core essentials to fabricate the products, and we provide you the valuable online presence and customer referrals to drive your business. Your potential is huge. Contact us today to become an Authorized Licensed Fabricator and get started on your better financial future.
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Last Updated on 1 hour ago ago by James from Model Railway Techniques
